Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 19 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $18,346/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Households earn $18,346 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.7%)
17% less violent crime than Hartford
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $27k less ($171,800 vs $198,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$18,346
$60,187 vs $41,841/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
17% lower
427.2 vs 515.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$27k less
$171,800 vs $198,900
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 19 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 4 and Pittsburgh wins 19. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hartford to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $171,800 median home), income ($41,841 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Pittsburgh, PA are about 391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.